Cincy on the Prowl
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Cincinnati Basketball: Nasty Nati falls to Fort Wayne Champs in TBT first round

ByCharles Post|
Dean Wade attempts a shot defended by Jacob Evans and the Cincinnati Bearcats. Getty Images.
Dean Wade attempts a shot defended by Jacob Evans and the Cincinnati Bearcats. Getty Images.

Jacob Evans III drilled a buzzer beater from beyond half court to give Nasty Nati a narrow lead heading into the fourth quarter but it wasn’t enough to propel the Bearcats alumni team to a victory against the Fort Wayne Champs on Monday night.

Even though it was a disappointing end to Nasty Nati’s first appearance in TBT, it sounds like the team will likely return next year. Fort Wayne will take on top seeded Florida TNT, while Nasty Nati was eliminated from the $1 million tournament.

Cincinnati Basketball: Nasty Nati falls to Fort Wayne Champs in TBT first round

"“This week was very important for our group of guys and the university,” Nasty Nati general manager Kevin Johnson explained in the postgame press conference. “I would love to continue to build this for our players year in and year out.”"

In addition to the half court heave, Evans scored a team-high 20 points and four assists. Jarron Cumberland compiled 13 points with three rebounds and Coreontae DeBerry had 10 points on 5/6 shooting from the field in the 71-67 loss.

Tayler Persons led Fort Wayne with 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists including a tough game-winning shot in the lane to beat Nasty Nati. Stephan Hicks added 11 points, highlighted by a four-point play during the Elam Ending period.

Troy Caupain knocked down a 3-pointer on the opening possession to get the scoring started but the Bearcats team quickly went cold from outside. Nasty Nati trailed for most of the first half before Evans hit back to back 3-pointers to take a 32-30 lead.

With less than five minutes remaining, Cumberland hit a smooth floater in the middle of the lane to go up 60-58 before Fort Wayne and Persons responded with a quick 5-0 run to regain the advantage and eventually secure a first round win.

"Nasty Nati head coach Corie Blount reacted to the loss in the press conference: “It was a battle and you want to try to keep that intensity during the game. For us to compete the way we did on our first one, I think we did Cincinnati proud.”"